The intersection of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide-related behavior: Patterns of elevated risk and implications for college mental health

ABSTRACT

Objective: To analyze the overlap of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide-related behaviors (SRB) among college students with regard to demographics, mental health, and coping styles. Participants: Respondents were 572 undergraduate students at a southwestern public university. Methods: Data were collected in 2015. Respondents completed a demographic survey and assessments of NSSI, SRB, internalizing symptoms (ie, anxiety, stress, and depression), aggression, and negative coping strategies. The survey was administered via a Web-based procedure. Results: Women reported more frequent cutting behaviors than men. Endorsement of NSSI was also associated with an increased likelihood of lifetime SRB. A subgroup of students endorsing both NSSI and SRB demonstrated poorer mental health, more negative coping, and self-reported female sex. Conclusions: College healthcare providers may benefit from competency-based training in techniques for the combination treatment of NSSI and SRB, as well as culturally based models of suicide.

KEYWORDS:

• College students
• coping
• mental health
• nonsuicidal self-injury
• suicide

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Sam Houston State University.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.

Notes

* Students were recruited through undergraduate psychology and philosophy courses at the university either for course credit or extra credit. Philosophy students were offered a small percentage extra credit and psychology students received one credit to satisfy mandatory research requirements. All students were offered alterative options for credit such as a research paper. Study participation and credit assignment are managed through a separate university website. Each student creates a unique account with the undergraduate research pool site, linked to each student's email and the course they are earn credit for. Study confirmation is sent to students and course professors, but maintained separately from actual participations/respondent answers on individual survey studies (in order to ensure anonymity and confidentiality).

^† Full statistical tests available from corresponding author.

^‡ University reference for publicly available demographic data obtainable upon request.